BACKGROUND Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) accounts for 3-5% of all adult solid tumors. An extensive search for the anatomic site of origin is often undertaken in an attempt to tailor systemic treatment, but the latter often has limited efficacy - especially in the setting of an initial treatment failure. Molecularly targeted therapy is an emerging approach that may offer greater efficacy an...

Despite significant progresses, cell-based assays still have major limitations part to because of their plate format. Here, we present a wall-less plate technology based on unique liquid dynamics named DropArray that takes advantage of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surface properties. Liquid velocities within the DropArray plate were quantified through fluid dynamics simulation and complete reten...

The charge collection characteristics of a parallel-plate transmission air ion chamber have been measured for 0.2-/isec pulses of 25 MeV electrons over a range of 3 initial charge densities from 0.6 to 430 esu/cm . Plate spacings of 0.07, 0.40 and 0.73 cm were used with E/p values of 1 and 6; 1, 3 and 6; and 1 and 3 V/cm-mmHg, respectively. Electron beam monitoring was done with a graphite Fara...

We compared the performance characteristics of a real-time PCR method, the LightCycler vanA/vanB detection assay (Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.) to that of Enterococcosel agar (BBL, Sparks, Md.) for direct detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from 894 perianal stool swabs. For 421 of 894 swabs, the result for LightCycler PCR was compared to an Enterococcosel p...

Proteolytic activity was detected, using a sensitive radial diffusion plate assay, in the plasma membrane fractions of corn (Zea mays L.) roots and from roots of several other plant species. The proteases could be effectively inhibited in corn with phenylmethane sulfonyl fluoride or chymostatin. Protease activity of oat roots, however, was not significantly reduced by these inhibitors. The resu...

The zebrafish mutation curly up (cup) affects the zebrafish ortholog of polycystic kidney disease 2, a gene that encodes the Ca(2+)-activated non-specific cation channel, Polycystin 2. We have characterized two alleles of cup, both of which display defects in organ positioning that resemble human heterotaxia, as well as abnormalities in asymmetric gene expression in the lateral plate mesoderm (...

A plate assay to measure protease production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is described. This assay is more sensitive and rapid than established methods.

Fitness costs can delay pest resistance to crops that produce insecticidal toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and past research has found that entomopathogens impose fitness costs of Bt resistance. In addition, entomopathogens can be used for integrated pest management by providing biological control of pests. The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera...

A method is described for the assay of gentamicin using the enzyme gentamicin adenylyltransferase derived from an R-factor-carrying strain of Escherichia coli. The reaction involves adenylylation of the gentamicin with ((14)C)-ATP to form a radioactively labelled product. The technique is compared with the plate diffusion and the urease methods. The adenylylation technique gives results compara...

The present investigation of crude extracts from the whole plant Merremia umbellata was done by cold maceration with methanol and pet ether solvent subjected to preliminary phytochemical, pharmacological screening, antibacterial against selected Gram-positive Gram-negative bacteria. Phytochemical studies indicate presence Flavonoids steroids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, Triterpenoids glycosides, ...